Why We Are Committing to #NoSugarNovember

By now, many people have realized that refined white sugar contributes nothing positive to their health. Others have heard or read about the negatives associated with sugar consumption, but remain foggy on the exact ways it tears down wellness. As the frequency of these conversations increase, they start to morph into debates, with skeptics doubting whether sugar really is as harmful as many of us believe.

At Raw Elements, we believe so strongly in the benefits of removing sugar from our eating that we have devoted the month of November to sharing information about sugar consumption, along with strategies for transitioning to a sugar-free lifestyle.

This No Sugar November blog post is intended to arm you with the knowledge you need to re-examine your relationship with sugar. We’ve gathered compelling, science-backed reasons to ditch the powdery white stuff, as well as information that may make you wary of popular sugar substitutes. This is truly food for thought.

Study-Backed Insights into Sugar’s Impact on Your Body & Health

One 15-year study found that participants who consumed 25% or more of their daily calories from sugar were more than twice as likely to die from heart disease, as compared to those whose diets included less than 10% added sugar – Source

Researchers from the University College London studied 5,000 men and found a strong association between high sugar consumption (more than 67g per day) and an increased chance of suffering a common mental disorder after five years – 23% higher risk than those who consumed the lowest levels of sugar (less than 39.5g) – Source

A USC study found that participants who ate foods with fructose (compared to glucose) experienced increased hunger and cravings – Source

Studies have shown that consuming the equivalent of 20 teaspoons of sugar (the amount contained in two average 12oz sodas) supresses the body’s immune responses – Source

Ingesting just two servings of sugar-sweetened beverages per week has been linked to an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes – Source

One recent study has indicated that a diet high in sugar could stimulate cancer tumour growth – Source

Sugar is found in 74% of packaged foods available at supermarkets – including savoury foods or products marketed as “healthy” – Source

Dangers & Things to Note About Conventional Sugar Alternatives

Scientists from the University of Manitoba found that artificial sweeteners (such as aspartame, sucralose and stevia) may be tied to long-term weight gain, obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease – Source

Researchers from the University of Adelaide found that artificial sweeteners “fake out” your body and in as little as two weeks, your body’s ability to control blood glucose becomes compromised – Source

A recent study published in Stroke (the journal of the American Heart Association) found that drinking at least one artificially sweetened beverage per day was associated with nearly three times the risk of developing stroke or dementia – Source

Animal studies point to the addictive nature of artificial sweeteners; in studies of rats exposed to cocaine then given a choice between intravenous cocaine and oral saccharine, most chose saccharin – Source

Whether you’re looking to eliminate sugar from your diet, or simply reduce your intake, it can feel daunting because it is so prolific. It lurks in even the most seemingly innocuous of places and offers nothing but empty calories.

Given the above points of concern with many widely available sugar substitutes, attaining a sugar-free diet can feel near impossible. This is precisely why choosing the right all-natural sugar alternative or sweetener is so important. However, this search has become complicated as well. Today, many “natural” sugar alternatives have become so commercially popular that they’ve been compromised for the sake of mass production. This often takes the form of additives, preservatives and excessive processing. Aside from this, many people simply do not enjoy the bitter aftertaste that accompanies many of these naturally-derived sugar alternatives. Where does that leave us?

With everything know about refined sugar, and artificial and “natural” sweeteners available today, we are confident in reaching for Lakanto sweeteners and sugar-free products. The Classic and Golden sugar substitutes are particularly amazing for a few reasons:

We encourage you to check out our No Sugar November page throughout the month for discounts on Lakanto’s incredible plant-based lineup. Each week, select Lakanto products will be reduced! As a bonus to really kick start or support your No Sugar Journey this month, we’re offering 25% off all sizes of Lakanto Classic and Lakanto Golden all month long. Shop now!

Everyone knows that in order to be a successful athlete or body builder, one must consume protein on a regular basis to aid in his or her fitness goals. The misconception though, falls in the fact that many also wrongly believe that animal proteins are the ONLY and most...

You might think that you are the controller of how your body functions, but if you’ve ever witnessed a woman that’s just run out of ice cream lose their marbles and cry, laugh and then instantly lash out within the span of 5 minutes then you have experienced the...

When it comes to forecasting what 2020 would have been like, a few got it right. We don’t (yet) drive flying cars as predicted on the “Jetsons” in 1962 and we’re not (yet) habituating Mars… but, with the rapid rise in technological advancements, one thing is for certain -...

Thank you to Raw Elements Ambassador Grace Van Berkum, RHN, for authoring this guest post! Grace is a detox nutritionist and yoga teacher who is all about empowering others through plant-based nutrition and self-love. Grace leads inspiring Gracious Living Lifestyle retreats in Nicaragua and around the world. If you’re up...

Michelle Vysohlid is a Functional Holistic Nutritionist, CNP, focusing on women's health, and an IHN graduate. She utilizes a holistic approach to healing and incorporates new technologies such as DNA testing. When it comes to her own health and the health concerns of her family, Michelle has always been...

I’ll never forget the day I received the news of my mom’s breast cancer diagnosis. Immediately my mind started racing a mile a minute while my heart sank to the pit of my stomach. I recall thinking of my great aunt who had gone through a 10-year cancer battle (on...

A track and field athlete’s lifestyle is divided into two – completely different – categories: the consistent routine of out-of-competition training season and the crazy travel schedule of the in-competition season. For fall and winter, I’ve developed a finely tuned training and recovery routine. I wake up at the same...

At Raw Elements, we’re dedicated to improving the lives of Canadians by positively supporting our customers’ fitness and wellness goals through the products we distribute and the educational content we deliver. This year, we wanted to extend our support a little further and in a new, exciting way. This was...

The epic two-day CHFA (Canadian Health Food Association) East Trade Show wrapped up this past weekend in downtown Toronto and now that we’ve finally got a chance to catch our breath, we’re giving you a run down. CHFA is Canada’s largest trade association dedicated to natural health and organic...

1. Transparency Since 2003 Lavido has been passionate about creating natural and organic skin care. All products are made with only the best raw plant-based ingredients and developed with the most cutting-edge technology. Lavido is not afraid to show you what they’re about and provide complete transparency about what is...

We know it can be tough to weed through fad diets, trendy workout regimes and natural product hype when you’ve already got the rest of life on your plate. The good news is that you don’t have to choose between healthy food and convenience. Since 2005 Raw Elements has...

If you’re committed to clean eating, you probably have a good idea as to what foods you should be fuelling your body with. Ready to take it to the next level? Be on the lookout for ingredients that can undermine your healthy food choices. Hiding in all sorts of...